Steering apparatus for traction-engines.



No. 695,401. Patnted Mar. u, I902.

I I j r. norms.

S I'EEFHNG APPARATUS FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

(Application filed June 32,1901.)

(No. Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR W1 T/VESSES:

w Fwd-1550M;

N0. 695,40l. I Patented Mar. II, I902.

F. KQONS; STEERING APPARATUS FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

' -,(Applica.tion filed June 22. 1901. (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Af/omeys I I I I I I I I f/VVENTOR fiaukjllboras.

UNITED STATES 3 PATENT OFFicE.

FRANK KOONS, OF MOORELAND, INDIANA.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR TRACTION-ENGINESJ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,401, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed June 22, 1901.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KOONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mooreland, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Steering Apparatus for Traction-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved steering ap paratus for traction-engines, the object being to provide a simple and; efficient steam mechanism by means of-whichthe front gear of a traction-engine can be quickly and easily moved to change the direction of the engine, and another object is to provide a simple and efficient means whereby thesaid front}- gear will be quickly and automaticallyfreturned to a straight line aftercontacting with any obstruction tending to direct it in a dilferent direction. v I

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the-peculiar construe-I 'tion of the various parts and theirnovel com-i bination and arrangement, all ofwhichhill be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1-is a side elevation of a traction-engine provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of-the steam appliance. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the lever mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates an ordinary traction-engine which may be of any construction driven in any suitable manner.

B indicates a steam-cylinder arranged beneath the boiler of the traction-engine and has a piston 0 arranged therein, the pistonrod D projecting through the forward end of the cylinder and is rigidly connected to a rack bar E by means of a connecting-arm F, so that when the piston moves the rack-bar moves in unison therewith, said rack-barsliding in guideways arranged beneath the cylinder B. This rack-bar meshes with a pinion G, which is arranged intermediatev the chain-spools H, said spools beingsupported in bracketsI, secured to thetraction-engine. Steeringch'ains K connect the'drums H to the front axle of the engine, it being understood that the chains are wound in opposite direc- Serial No. 65,689. (No model.)

arm N, said arm having-a longitudinal slot N in its end connected to the piston-rod. The arm N .is also connected to a slide-bar O, which has a laterally-projecting arm P, con- "nected to a lever Q, operated by the rod R,

which inturn is pivotally}conneeted'with a hand-lever S. The rod 0 slides'in suitable guides 0', arranged upon the bottom of the engine-boiler, as most clearlyshown in-'Fig. 1.

Inbperation when it is desired to turn the front gear'to the right or'le ft the operatinglever'fS isthrown backward or forward, rockingthe lever Q, which in' turn operates the sliding bar 0, which com municatesits motion tothe valve -operating rod M, thereby admitting'lsteamto the cylinder at the proper point. The piston is then forced over forwardly or rearwardly, carrying with it the rack-bar,

which meshes with the pinion and operates the chain-spools, unwinding one chain and winding the other, thereby turningthe front gear as required. The steering of the engine istherefore under the direct control of the engineer. In case one of the front wheels should meet with an obstruction which would throw the front gear around one of the chains will become slack, while the other one will pull upon its spool and unwind, and in so unwinding motion is of course communicated to the rack-bar, which in turn operates upon the piston-rod, the arm N, and consequently the valve-operating rod, thereby admitting steam into the cylinder at the proper end for the purpose of returning the piston and itsrod to their normal or straight positions,and thereby automatically returning the front gear to its proper or straight position, it being understood, of course, that the hand-lever is also operated through the medium of the slidebarv It will thus beseen that-I- O and lever Q. g g g provide an exceedingly simple appliance for controlling the motion of the traction-engine and also for automatically orrecting'auy va- 7 riation due to obstructions."

In practice I provide the pipe L with a cutoff valve, as shown at L which is operated by a hand-lever L through the medium of a connecting-rod I the hand-lever being located adjacent the lever S, and is therefore within easy reach of the operator.

By providing the pipe with a valve I am enabled to entirely out off the steam from the cylinder when the machine is at rest.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A steering device for traction-engines comprising a cylinder and steam-chest, the piston and red, the chain and spools and a rack-bar connected to the piston-rod and adapted to operate upon a pinion arranged between the spools, substantially as described.

2. In adevice of the kind described,the combiuation with the steam-chest, cyliuder piston and rod, of the rack-bar rigidly connected to the piston-rod, the steering-chains and spools,the pinion arranged between the spools .f or engagement with the rack-bar, and means for regulating the passage of steam to the chest and cylinder,substantially as described.

3. In a device of the kind described,thc combination with the steam-chest,cylinder, piston and rod, of the chains and spools, the rackbar rigidly connected to the piston-rod, the

pinion arranged between the spools, the valve stem or rod, and means for connecting the piston-rod and valve stem or rod, and the hand-lever with operative connections for controlling the steam-valve, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the kind described,tl1e combination with the steam chest and cylinder, piston and rod, of the rack-bar connected to the piston-rod, the pinion arranged for e11- gagement with said rack-bar, the steering chains and spools, the valve stem or rod, the arm connecting the said valve stem or rod and piston-rod, the slide-bar to which said arm isattached and the hand-lever and operating connections between the hand-lever and slide-bar, substantially as described.

FRANK KOONS.

\Vitnesses:

\V. F. BYRKET, DAVID IIoovnR. 

